Joining the Delegation
Months had passed since my trip to the Elf Kingdom. Berat was still camped out in the nest. No idea if she'd forgotten about returning to the demon realm or just had zero intention of going back. Prostia showed up almost every day now too. It felt like just yesterday that cold blasts erupted whenever Berat so much as sat down, yet here was Prostia dozing off right beside her with half-lidded eyes.
They don't fight anymore.
Kar checked in occasionally via feathers. Just the usual—he was fine, his kin were thriving. But with more mouths to feed, problems arose. I opened my subspace, and it was bone-dry.
...All eaten, huh.
Of course it was. Prostia munched her ice fruits but still dove into the meat. Berat had a particular fondness for the abyssal flesh. The two of them tearing through it together? No stockpile stood a chance.
I glanced around the nest. Berat lay stretched out long on the Turaka hide, one hand draped over her eyes as she stared up at the ceiling. Prostia snoozed next to her, eyes barely open.
"Heading out to hunt."
Berat shifted her hand aside and looked my way.
"Yeah. Catch a ton."
Prostia's eyelids fluttered once.
[......Go and return.]
I strolled to the nest's edge and released Polymorph. Kicking off, my wings caught the wind and buoyed me upward. I banked south along the World Tree's trunk. Cool breeze whistled through my feathers.
Leaving my territory, magic beast auras wafted up from the forest fringe below.
Found some.
Dropping altitude while scanning, I spotted a bipedal magic beast in a clearing at the woods' edge. Four or five meters tall, single eye smack in the center of its head. It sensed something, glanced skyward, and bolted.
Before it got far, I gathered wind at my talon tips and flung it. Whoosh—! Air ripped as the blade plunged down. The beast's head sheared clean off its shoulders. Fishy reek mingled with grass scent on the breeze.
Stashed the corpse in subspace and chased the next aura. Deeper in, another. Slipping between trees, a three-meter bear-form magic beast charged—eyes bloodshot, unlike the cyclops, roaring fiercely.
I whipped two crossing wind blades this time. Thunk—! Its forepaw clawed the air once, then it toppled sideways into a tree. Leaves showered as I bagged it and moved on.
Snagged three more after that, filling subspace. Time to head back—then a weird aura pinged from a forest corner.
...What's that.
Peering from a branch, a clearing swarmed with unfamiliar critters. Octopus-like round heads, leggy bodies slithering on land. Dog-sized, dozens clumping and scattering in a writhing mass.
Oh. Those exist too.
Sea-dwellers crawling on dirt? Kinda novel. I pooled lightning in my talons and zapped the clearing's heart. Crackle—! Blue flash paralyzed the lot. Sizzle-pop as legs charred. Roasting aroma hit my nose—familiar, like past-life grilled octopus tentacles on a hot plate.
Oh.
Talon-snagged a leg, chomped. Crispy shell crunched, oily innards burst.
...Tasty.
Swept the whole cluster into subspace. Packed to bursting.
This'll hold us for a bit.
Lifting off—then a familiar scent snagged my nostrils.
...Kar?
Direction pointed to Ignar Plains. Hunting had brought me near his turf. Turned toward it; far off, red scales flashed sunlight as a figure winged closer.
Size was different. Definitely bulkier. Broader shoulders, steeper wing angle.
...Grown a lot.
Kar thumped down ahead.
"...M-Master!"
"Caw."
(Long time no see.)
"Yes! It's been ages!"
Kar's tail drum-thumped the ground, forepaws shuffling excitedly. Red aura seeped softly from his scales.
Tapped a scale with my talon tip. Mana packed solid. Worlds away from the shivering wreck at our first meet.
"Caw caw."
(You've gotten way stronger.)
Kar's eyes bugged.
"...You can tell?"
"Caaaw."
(Duh.)
Opened subspace, dropped a magic beast at his feet.
"Caw."
(Here—yours.)
Kar stiffened, eyes rimming red.
"M-Master...."
Not enough, probably. Pulled another, plopped it beside.
"Caw."
(Say if you need more.)
"M-Master...!"
Eyes redder. Deep bow, then forepaw snatched a beast for a slow bite.
"Caw?"
(Plains treating you okay?)
Swallowed, head up.
"Your leftover mana revived it right away. Kin settling in made it even better now."
Tail tip thumped once.
"Caw?"
(Challengers?)
"Still some. Deep-layer stragglers now and then. Can't abandon territory awhile because of 'em."
Tail tip curled faintly.
"Sorry, Master. Gotta hold the line longer."
"Caaaw."
(Hit Ignar size, and they'll bail on their own.)
Kar fumbled the half-eaten beast, snatched it back.
"Th-that's easier said...!"
"Caw."
(Yeah, well.)
Kar chomped again, tail wagged once.
"Caw."
(Take more downtime.)
Kar bowed.
"...Yes. Thank you, Master."
Then—a nose-twitch. Far off, alien mana. Fresh type. Dozens faint auras trailed it.
Kar felt it too; scales prickled lightly.
"What's that."
...The delegation Rianndrea mentioned.
"Caw?"
(Delegation?)
"...Delegation, sir?"
"Caw caw caaaw."
(Heard humans heading to Elf Kingdom.)
Kar eyed that way, then me.
"Gonna check it out?"
"Caw."
(Yep.)
Wings out.
"Caaaaw—"
(Going ahead.)
"Yes! Safe travels, Master!"
Kar's call faded behind. Hard wingbeat toward the auras.
Closer, signatures sharpened. Mostly humans, dotted with beast-mana hybrids.
Those must be beast contractors.
World Tree roots airspace: wings tucked, speed bled. Road below—broad path to the Tree.
Delegation marched it. Armored knights in ranks, flag soldiers flanking. Cargo wagons filled gaps. Armor/flags gleamed sharp from above.
Oh, humans.
First since reincarnating. Bulkier than elves. Round ears, rougher vibes. Elves rang clear like World Tree mana; humans felt crude, weighty.
One wagon leaked outlier aura. No human grit—honed wind-sharp.
What's that.
Mana reined in. Dropped lower. Slow circle over the line.
Shadow cloaked ground.
...Oops.
Glanced down: massive six-wing shade blanketed the formation. Mana cloaked, shadow forgotten.
Shouts rose.
"Up top—!"
Soldier first. Knights craned. Swords hissed free. Shing—! Shing shing—!
Formation shattered. Wagons halted, soldiers braced. Magic circles bloomed. Finger-lights gathered; chants droned up.
Spots birthed beasts: black smoke-form, armor-like, winged. All sorts. Clung to contractors, fangs bared my way. Growls layered, quaking earth faintly.
What now.
Too late to bail. Hovering no good either.
Peers down. Knights swords-up in guard webs. Mages' lights danced at chant's end. Beasts still menaced.
All zeroed my vector.
Central wagon door swung. Armored man in overcoat emerged. Knights gripped blades eyes-locked; he ignored his hilt.
...Boss man.
Already busted—might as well land and chat. Wings folded, descent.
"Landing—!"
Talons scraped stone to gravel. Grass-earth whiff rose. Armor clanks, boot-scrapes near.
Knights rigid, blades trained. Nearest tip quivered.
Man hand-raised. Swords froze. Mages dropped hands. Beasts hushed.
Man advanced. Twin thick-mana knights shadowed. They closed, sandwiching him.
Halted ten paces. Gray hair, hawk eyes. Youthful straight-backed. Coat-mana dwarfed the rest. Gaze rock-steady.
"Walter von Waldenfels, 1st Duke of the Verdan Empire. Bound for Elf Kingdom."
Paused.
"Who might you be."
"Caw."
(Me? Nox.)
Walter mouthed it once.
"...Nox."
"Caw."
(Yeah.)
"Whence do you hail."
"Caw caaaw."
(Up top. World Tree summit.)
Walter's eyes slitted. Rear knights hilt-clenched audibly.
"Never heard tell of such at the World Tree."
"Caw."
(Just moved in.)
Walter head-to-toe scan, eyes locked anew.
"Reason for manifesting before us."
"Caw caw."
(Nah. Just curious what humans look like.)
Walter paused wordless. Steady gaze up, then:
"...And now that you've seen—what's your take."
Quick once-over: duke, knights, mages.
"Caw."
(Neat, but y'all seem kinda weak.)
Knight faces flushed, hands hilt-bound. Mage lights flickered.
Walter hand-up. Grips loosened.
"...If we weaklings, then you strong."
"Caw."
(Yep. Strong.)
Walter eyed steady. Face unchanged.
"Then—might that strength guard our path."
Huh?
Glanced rear. Wagon-armor tail to horizon.
"Caw?"
(Elf Kingdom-bound, right?)
"Indeed."
Rear wagons swept.
While I'm at it, stash in one, surprise on arrival.
Carriage cozy, fun too. Kaelion and Kaiyel's faces—gold.
Polymorph on. Black mist cleared; shrank petite, wings vanished, black robe hem ankle-brushed. Air stilled a beat—erupted.
"Wh-what...!"
"G-girl...?"
"Crow to girl...?!"
"Duke, sir...!"
Knights half-drew anew. Mages rechanted; beasts refanged.
...Girl?
Misheard? Nah—echoes.
"How's a girl..."
"Spirit...?"
What the—.
"I'm a guy, though."
Knight agape-froze. Mage fumbled staff.
"Guy?"
Walter alone steady, eyes slitted then eased.
Stepped to him.
"Cool. I'll guard you."
Walter crisp bow.
"Our thanks."
No wait—gestured rear carriage.
"Carriage ride okay?"
"By all means."
Walter aside-stepped, indicated. Escort flung door.
Boarded, seated. Plush cushions, upscale scent.
Oh, nice.
Door shut—knights buzzed outside to Walter.
"Duke—! Truly fine? Unknown entity...!"
"It's fine."
Walter low.
"Kaelion of Elf Kingdom already briefed via communication orb."
"King Kaelion?"
"New divine beast nests World Tree. Temper unpredictable—might cross delegation path. Forewarned averts ill."
Knights hushed.
"Such news..."
"Kaelion's orb missive. My oversight not sharing—heed now."
"Yes, sir."
Silence, then knight tentative.
"...Sir. One query."
"Out with it."
"That being... truly a boy?"
Neighbor yanked his hem. Others gulped dry.
Walter gaze-slow to him.
"...Priority now."
"...N-no, sir. My error."
Knight deep-bowed. Tension thickened.
Window-glanced out. Reformers side-eyed our carriage.
Arm sill-propped, chin rested. Wheels ground rhythmic stone.
Human-gawking bonus: straight to Elf Kingdom comfy.
Empire folk—bound to know stuff.
Ah, grill on the hero too.